Love Restored (Gallagher Brothers #1)(8)

Blake sobered and nodded. “Well, I’m glad you see something you can trust. Let me get to work. You can keep talking if you want. What do you do for a living?”

Kennedy began talking about how she was working in social work at the moment in the pediatric unit of the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora. When she spoke of helping kids like she’d been helped in the past, her voice warmed, and Blake knew that this woman would one day do amazing things—if she hadn’t already begun.

The sketch only took a few minutes, and when Kennedy beamed, Blake figured she had it right on the first try. She quickly went about making the stencil after she’d confirmed the placement on Kennedy’s hip.

Once Kennedy was situated on the chair-turned-table, Blake placed the stencil and made sure everything was ready to go on her end. Since Kennedy wanted it done in black and there wouldn’t be any shading, this would only take a few minutes. A perfect tattoo with a pretty fantastic client to get the day going.

Though the position of the tattoo was right on the bone, Kennedy didn’t make a sound as Blake worked. Since she could see the scars dotting Kennedy’s side and the other parts of her hip, she figured the girl wasn’t new to needles.

Blake let out a breath, letting the buzz of the needle settle over her as she focused. This one had to be perfect…though all of them did, didn’t they?

Before long, she’d finished the last flourish at the edge of the wing to show flight and pulled away, cleaning as she went.

“All done,” she said as she slid a protective coating over the new ink.

Kennedy looked down and blinked. “Really? Already? That hardly hurt.”

Blake smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Let me help you out of the chair so you can see it before I wrap it up.” She went through the aftercare instructions, making sure to repeat anything that seemed confusing.

“I love it,” Kennedy beamed. “Seriously. It’s perfect.”

Blake relaxed, the tension leaking out of her shoulders. “Good. I’m happy you like it. I think the idea you came up with is perfect.” Kennedy met Blake’s eyes, and the other woman teared up. This time, Blake didn’t join her. “I hope you fly, Kennedy, though I think you’re already on your way.”

By the time she’d finished with Kennedy and cleaned her station, she only had a few minutes before her piercing client was due. Though she took walk-ins for ink and piercings, for something as delicate as her next appointment, she preferred to be prepared.

“Dude! I didn’t know you were coming in!” Maya’s voice brought Blake out of her thoughts, and she turned, only to freeze.

In all the tattoo shops, in all the world…

Murphy Gallagher reached down to put his hand over Maya’s belly and smiled that sweet smile of his while the goliath behind him scowled at Blake.

Why the hell was Graham scowling at her now? What had she possibly done to earn his wrath? And would that big beard of his feel sexy as hell scraping along her inner thighs?

And that was enough of that.

“How is my little niece doing?” Murphy said as he cupped Maya’s belly. “Is she going to be like her mom? Because I really hope so. Jake deserves it.”

Jake.

As in Jake Gallagher. One of Maya’s men since she was amazing and living in a true triad with Jake and Border.

But Gallagher. Damn it. Why hadn’t she put two and two together? Of course, it wasn’t like this was a small town. It was freaking Denver, Colorado. There had to be hundreds of Gallaghers in the state, and yet, the ones working on her estate just happened to be married into the Montgomery family.

And she was about to handle a Gallagher dick.

Well, f*ck.

She’d only known the guy’s first name on the phone, and Murphy, while a slightly uncommon name, wasn’t that uncommon. And yet it seemed the fates were out to get her, and she was about to give a Prince Albert to one of the Gallagher brothers.

Because this was her life, and contrary to popular belief, slamming her head into a wall wasn’t the right answer to everything.

So it didn’t matter in the slightest that the Gallaghers had the bid on the estate. While she might have wanted the Montgomerys at first, her reasoning for allowing the Gallaghers to do it so she could keep things to herself hadn’t worked out either. Her secrets would be out in the open, and people would be wondering about her.

Again.

Whatever. She just needed to get the piercing done and not worry about it.

Maybe.

“How do you know it’s a girl?” Maya said. “It could be a boy for all you know, and be all quiet like Border.”

At that, Graham shook his head, a smile creeping onto his face. Damn if she didn’t like that smile. “Honey, it’s you. Like that kid is going to be quiet like Border. He or she is going to be a bundle of energy like you and Jake no matter what. That much I can tell you.” He lowered his head and kissed her temple. “Good to see you, Montgomery.”

Maya beamed at the two men and shuffled between them. “So, really, tell me why you’re here. You need new ink?”

“I have an appointment,” Murphy said with a wink. He lifted his head and snorted. “With Blake here, it seems. Nice to see you again, Ms. Brennen.”

Maya looked between them, a furrow between her brows. “What? How do you two know each other? And what do you mean, an appointment? What are you getting pierced, Murphy Gallagher?”